120 
MA.TONIA CARDAMOMUM. 
whose interests are supposed to be neutral, and equally unbiassed 
betwixt Government and the Ryot, successively and seriously deliver 
their opinion, from the average of which the official attendants strike 
a mean, and mutual satisfaction is generally the consequence. The 
duties or customs, are paid only on exportation from the province ; 
they amount to twelve per -cent., and the average price is rated at 
twelve hundred rupees per candy of 640 pounds avoirdupois. " The 
total produce of Wynaud may amount, one year with another, to 
something above fifty candies, perhaps fifty-six ; and this grown on 
an extent of more than one hundred miles, reckoning the sinuosi- 
ties and angles of the hill. The kingdom or country of the Coorja 
Rajah, produces less than ten or fifteen candies. The whole site of 
growth of this spice on the continent of Hindostan, extends from 
Soubramany GhaAt, nearly due east from Mangalore to Mannaar 
GhaAt, in the same direction from Calicut." 
Sensible and Chemical Properties. Cardamom seeds 
have a grateful odour, and an aromatic pungent taste, on being 
chewed they impart a glowing warmth in the mouth. These 
qualities are completely extracted both by water and alcohol. The 
watery infusion is turbid, somewhat thick ; its colour is changed by 
the addition of sulphate of iron, but yields a flocculent precipitate 
with muriate of mercury, acetate of lead, alcohol, and several of the 
acids. Distilled with water, they yield an essential oil (which swims 
upon the water) of a yellow colour, and a very pungent taste, with 
the odour of the seed. On inspissating the alcoholic tincture, a 
part of the flavour of the cardamoms rises with the spirit, but the 
greatest part remains behind, concentrated in the extract, which 
smells moderately of the seeds, and has a pungent aromatic taste, 
very durable in the mouth, and rather more grateful than that of 
the seeds in substance. The ethereal tincture is of a yellowish green, 
and when evaporated on water, leaves neither resin nor extractive, 
much essential oil floating on it. We must therefore conclude that 
these seeds are entirely composed of mucus, fecula and essen- 
tial oil. 
Medical Properties and Uses. Cardamoms are cordial, 
carminative and antispasmodic; when taken in moderate doses they 
gently stimulate the stomach and promote digestion : being less 
stimulating than pepper and other spicy aromatics, they form an use- 
ful adjunct to bitters in dyspeptic complaints ; and also to aperient 
medicines in flatulent colic, &c. Cardamoms may be given in powder, 
in doses of from five to twenty grains, but are more frequently taken 
